CELTIC PRO TOUR

Celtic Pro Tour announces 2008 schedule

The Celtic Pro Tour has announced its 2008 schedule as well a
pre-season Winter Series event later this month.

Murcar Links will host the 36-hole Grampian Open on April 28 and 29.

The tour itself will be launched on April 1 and 2 with the 36-hole
Pembrokeshire Open at Tenby Golf Club.

Before then, St Mellons Golf Club hosts the pre-season Leap Year
Classic on February 29. The 18-hole event is limited to 48 players.
Entry costs £99 for professional golfers and £55 for amateur golfers
(scratch or better).

The Celtic Pro Tour comprises three satellite tours – the expanded
Dragon Tour which involves 11 tournaments in Wales, and the Thistle and
Shamrock Tours in Scotland and Ireland respectively, with four events
staged between them.

The tour is designed to provide opportunities for professionals,
assistants and amateur golfers (scratch handicap or better) and to
develop and promote interest in golf in the Celtic nations.
"We're proud to be the first ever pro golf tour in Wales and are
delighted to be joining with the prestigious Tenby Golf Club in
creating and launching such an exciting new schedule," said Celtic Golf
Tours chief executive and managing director, Rhydian Thomas.
"All 17 venues in our third season are outstanding facilities, with
Ashburnham, the Marriott St Pierre and Pennard joining some quality
courses such as Murcar Links in Scotland and Seafield Golf and Country
Club and Tulfarris Hotel and Golf Resort in Ireland in hosting events
from April to October.
"We may add more Welsh courses and events in 2008 and would be very
interested in hearing from clubs if they are interested in hosting a
Celtic Pro Tour event."
Professionals who are interested in becoming members of the tour should
contact the Celtic Pro Tour on 07861 686568, or register online at the
official tour website at http://www.celticpro.com/. Membership costs £175
before February 29, or £199 from March 1 onwards.

Individual event entry is £99 for 18-hole events, £149 for 36-hole
events and £199 for 54-hole events.

"We have waited as late as possible to release our schedule, as we have
been waiting for the various PGA regions to announce their schedules
first. We feel strongly about providing opportunities for golfers to
compete in professional events and want to avoid any potential clashes,
thereby giving them more chances to play and earn," said Thomas.

The venue of the Tour Championship, to be played over 54 holes in
October, will again be the Marriott St Pierre, following the very
successful event in 2007, which was won by Matthew Griffiths (Oakdale)
and which featured on BBC Wales TV.

"Stuart Manley has played on the tour each year since its inception,
and we are delighted that he has made it back onto the European Tour
after an excellent season on the Challenge Tour in 2007, and Craig
Smith likewise on the Asian Tour. We'd like to think that the Celtic
Pro Tour has helped in some way towards their development and
experience and given them extra money winning opportunities along the
way" said Thomas.

Please contact the Tour on 07861 686568 or register online at the
website at http://www.celticpro.com/ Alternatively, cheques can be sent to the
Celtic Pro Tour office at Ein Cartref, Adare Terrace, Treorchy, RCT,
South Wales, CF42 6EN. Please make cheques payable to Celtic Golf Tours
Ltd.

The full schedule is:

April 1st & 2nd
Pembrokeshire Open, Tenby Golf Club 36 holes

April 14th
South West Wales Open, Pennard Golf Club 18 holes

April 28th & 29th
Grampian Open, Murcar Links 36 holes

May 17th & 18th
The Black Mountains Open, Garnant Park 36 holes

June 9th & 10th
Wexford Open, Seafield Golf and Country Club 36 holes

June 25th & 26th
West Wales Open, Gower Golf Club 36 holes

July 14th
South Wales Open, Southerndown Golf Club 18 holes

July 28th & 29th
South East Wales Open, St Mary's Golf Hotel 36 holes

August 8th
North Wales Open, Pwllheli Golf Club 18 holes

August 26th
East Wales Open, St Mellons Golf Club 18 holes

September 22nd & 23rd
Wicklow Open, Tulfarris Hotel and Golf Resort 36 holes

September 29th & 30th
West Wales Classic, Ashburnham Golf Club 36 holes

October 13th, 14th & 15th
TBC South West of Ireland Open (West Waterford, Gold Coast & Dungarvan)
54 holes

October 23rd & 24th
Swansea Bay Open, Clyne Golf Club 36 holes

October 27th, 28th & 29th
Tour Championship, Marriott St Pierre 54 holes

Further information:
Rhydian Thomas,
Celtic Pro Tour,
07861 686568.
info@celticpro.co.uk
http://www.celticpro.com/

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